Fianna Fáil TD, Michael Cahill, has called for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon to ensure farm inspections are scheduled with at least two weeks' notice.

In a parliamentary question this week, Deputy Cahill also asked the minister to ensure that inspections do not take place during the lambing period.

The TD suggested conducting inspections during shearing from mid-June to mid-July, or ramming from mid-September to early November, to minimise disruption for farmers.

In response, Minister Heydon highlighted that on-farm inspections are a requirement of EU regulations.

According to the minister, the inspection approach and reporting system used is standardised across all areas of the country, to ensure consistency and fair treatment of all farmers.

Minister Heydon said: "In relation to providing notice for on-farm inspections, as agreed in the Farmers’ Charter of Rights with the farm bodies, all inspections will, in the main, be announced.

"In duly justified cases, additional notice may be given but limited to the minimum necessary. This may particularly be the case for inspections involving hill sheep flocks," Minister Heydon explained.

According to Minister Heydon, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) takes account of the circumstances and follows agreed protocols with the farming bodies in relation to penning at lambing time.

"I can assure the deputy that in relation to carrying out inspections in hill sheep areas, my department will endeavour to take account of the timing of inspections relative to when sheep move to and from the hills," Minister Heydon said.

He also said that DAFM will "endeavour" to provide adequate notice and tolerances to take account of the unique circumstances in the hill areas, while at the same time endeavouring to complete the necessary inspections to ensure that farmers receive their payments on time.